HC Deb 08 July 1982 vol 27 cc446-7
14. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the percentage increase or decrease in the average consumption per head of milk, butter and beef since 1970.

Mr. Peter Walker

The percentage changes in average household consumption per head between 1970 and 1981 are as follows:

per cent.
Milk* -13.4
Butter -38.4
Beef -10.8
* Including welfare and school milk.

Mr. Taylor

Does my right hon. Friend accept that at least some of these alarming reductions in food consumption are because many people, particularly pensioners and those on low incomes, cannot afford to pay the artificially high prices required by the common agricultural policy? Does he also accept that, at a time of high prices and falling consumption, it was criminal for the Minister of State to tell me yesterday that our exports of cheap subsidised food to Russia in 1981 were more than 3 million tonnes compared with 2 million tonnes in the previous year and less than 1 million tonnes in 1979?

Mr. Walker

I do not accept my hon. Friend's premise. He has chosen those three items, but I could choose other items also affected by the common agricultural policy, such as cheese, the consumption of which is up by 8.4 per cent. and pork, which is up by 35 per cent. There has been a considerable variation in eating habits. As the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) pointed out, the battle between margarine and butter has been based on the health aspect, not on the price factor.

Mr. Jay

Does the Minister regard as one of the blessings of Common Market membership the fact that the British public's consumption of butter has been reduced by 40 per cent. since we joined?

Mr. Walker

The fact is that as a result of health campaigns during that period there was a considerable switch to margarine. It is interesting to note that the market price for beef for most of that time has been above the guaranteed price in the Community. The reason, as beef producers know, is that the fixed price has been below production cost, and that has created a shortage of beef.

Mr. Colin Shepherd

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the increase in the price of milk is less than the increases in the retail price index and the food price index, and that both increases are less than the increase in average wages since we entered the Community? Does he further agree that there has been a failure in the marketing of milk and that no blame can be attached to the Community for the fall in milk consumption?

Mr. Walker

As my hon. Friend knows, the price of milk in this country is nothing to do with the CAP intervention price. It is an agreed price with the Dairy Trade Federation to retain the doorstep deliver service.

Mr. Buchan

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that his policy has probably done more to reduce butter consumption in Britain than the entire U-boat campaign in the Second World War? Have not two factors come together: first, a general decline in the standard of living, brought about by the Government, and, secondly, artificially high prices because of the Minister's adherence to a crazy policy of agriculture support? Will he bear in mind that as well as being the Minister of Agriculture he is the Food Minister and, as such, responsible for the consumer?

Mr. Walker

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on that good U-boat phrase. It is a remarkable phrase to use, as my one achievement in regard to butter has been to double the subsidy compared with what the Labour Government did.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the wholly unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity—[Interruption]—and the Minister should stop laughing.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Another Exocet missile.